The training program presented
here has been used by some of the strongest German powerlifters including
IPF Junior World Champions Ralf Gierz and Michael Bruegger. Gierz totaled
close to 2200 lbs. at superheavyweight and Bruegger was the first German
powerlifter to break the 2200 lb. barrier at a bodyweight of 26O lbs. Bruegger
was also the first German to bench over 600 lbs. in an IPF competition
(paused and no bench shirt). The basic concepts of this program have been
used by almost every Olympic lifter, including many world champions over
the last 40 years. The
3x3 system is an eight week training cycle that consists of two phases.
Phase
I is a high volume phase, while Phase II is the competition
phase. It shares some similarities with the Louie Simmons style of training
program. The similarities include no off-season, training percentages in
the 58-64 percent range and the main focus of the 3x3 is its high volume
phase. Another similarity is very few of the 3x3 training lifts are in
the percentage range of 80-95 percent. The
one thing making the 3x3 unique when compared to Simmons and other current
powerlifting training is that the only training exercises used are the
competition lifts. There is no assistance work! Why is that? The answer
is very simple. In order to get strong in the squat you need to train the
quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hip flexors and the lower back. In other
programs there are different ways in which to train all these muscles.
You can perform a variety of assistance exercises or you can combine the
squat with these same assistance exercises. The other option is to train
the squat and only the squat. We already know this exercise works all the
muscles mentioned above. The major advantage of this option is the squat
works the muscles exactly the way they are needed for the competition. As
I mentioned earlier this type of training approach has been used for decades
by the Eastern Bloc and Western European Olympic lifters and it works.
During the last 10 years I have had the opportunity to talk to and train
with many Olympic lifters. In 1992 1 was stationed at the Olympic Training
Center while doing my assignment with the German Army. I observed that
their training consists of only the competition lifts, the snatch and clean
and jerk. Some of you might say that Olympic lifters do a variety of pulls
including pulls from a block, high pulls from the hang position, etc. If
you take a closer look at these exercises you will see that they are biomechanically
identical to a certain portion of the competition lifts. The only difference
is that they are not performed through the full range of motion of the
competition lift. This will definitely overload the muscles. This is a
technique that is very effective if you do it right. Unfortunately I see
many powerlifters doing it wrong. They do hack squats, leg presses and
leg extensions - exercises that have no bio-mechanical relationship to
the competition lift. Leg pressing a 1000 lbs. does not mean that you can
squat that weight. Do you see the difference? These exercises do have their
place in a training program, but only to rehabilitate from injuries or
to create variety once in a while, but not in a serious training cycle. The
3x3 system works so well because your muscles will be stimulated much more
than with other routines. Letís take the squat again to explain this fact.
For example, if your squat maximum is 700 pounds and your training schedule
calls for 5 sets of 5 reps once a week you will achieve a fairly high volume
com-pared to other training programs. When 75% of 700 pounds (525 pounds)
is done for 25 reps (5 x 5) you end up with a total squat tonnage of 13125
pounds per week. This tonnage is determined by the work sets only and not
the warm up sets (this is the standard approach in the 3x3 program). Now
take a look at the total squat tonnage of the 3x3 system. In week four
you use 64% of 700 lbs. which is 448 pounds for a maximum of 40 reps (8
sets of 5 reps). The total tonnage of only one workout is 17920 pounds.
You repeat this workout twice and you end up with a total squat tonnage
of 35840 pounds per week. That is over two and a half times the volume
of the other program. The 3x3 system creates a workload stimulus that forces
the muscles to work much harder and therefore to grow faster and get stronger.Preparations: Before you start with the
3x3 system you need to find your current maximum in each of the three lifts.
There are many ways to find this out and itís up to you which one you choose.
You can use your last competition lifts if the competition was recent (within
the last 4 weeks). You can also go for a maximum single in the gym (important:
use all the equipment you usually wear in competition). If you estimate
your max based on reps you can use a variety of equations. A simple one
is the Epley equation. In the Epley, you multiply the reps achieved by
.033 and multiply the product of this times the weight used. Add the resulting
product to the weight used and you have your max. Remember it does not
make sense to choose weights that you cannot handle. Once
you have found your current maximum you can calcu-late your training weights
for the next eight weeks. I will give you a more detailed explanation of
this in future articles. However, before your start the program you will
be asked to increase your current maximum in the squat by 25 lbs., the
bench press by 10 lbs. and the deadlift by 15 lbs. This will be your new
projected maximum and it will be this number that you will base your training.
The training weights will be 58-64 percent of this projected maximum in
phase I and 60-95 percent in phase II.Phase
I- Weeks 1-4 - High Volume Phase: By doing a lot of sets and reps you
will reach a high volume during phase I. This set and rep scheme builds
muscle mass, strength and helps to improve your coordination and technique
on each of the competition lifts.

Summary: Phase I

Day lsquat: 5-8x5bench: 6-8x6deadlift: 5-8x5

Day 2squat: 5-8x5bench: 6-8x6deadlift: 5-8x5

Day 3squat: 5-8x5bench: 6-8x6deadlift: 5-8x5

The
total number of workouts in phase I is 12. This is three workouts per week.
Make sure to rest one day between the workouts and rest two days after
the completion of one training week. I used to work out on Monday, Wednesday
and Friday. With this approach I had two days off on the weekend which
really helped me to recuperate.

You
will squat, bench and deadlift in every workout. Yes - you squat, bench
and deadlift three times a week. Thatís too much? How do you know? Have
you ever tried it? You will not be doing any assistance work, which means
that you have all your energy available for the three competition lifts.
By the way, Iíve worked with Olympic lifters and they train the squat six
times a week. They break it down to four front squat sessions and two back
squat sessions. In these workouts they used some heavy poundages. If these
lifters were overtrained it is of no consequence because they won a bronze
and a silver medal in the superheavyweight category at the 1988 Olympic
Games in Seoul. The
sets and reps are the same in every workout. Five to eight sets of five
reps for the squat and deadlift and six to eight sets of six reps for the
bench press.

You work with four different percentages during
phase I, but you stay with one percentage for each training week. This
means you will use a particular weight for each exercise and work with
it for three workouts or one training week. The next week of training will
have you using a higher percentage and therefore a higher weight. That
way you increase the weights every week. Make sure to use no equipment,
except a power-lifting belt.Phase II - Week 5-8 - Competition Phase:
During phase II you will reduce the volume dramatically and increase the
intensity week by week. This helps you to adapt to the heavier weights.
You will use powerlifting equipment (suit, belt, wraps, and bench shirt)
for every heavy lift (1-2 reps). The intention of phase II is to build
power, maximum strength and improve your technique with heavy weight. As
in phase I, the total number of workouts in phase Ills 12. There are also
three workouts per week. Make sure to get plenty of rest between the workouts.
You will still squat, bench and deadlift in every workout. The sets and
reps in the daily workouts will vary. Each exercise is divided in two parts:

Technique and power training. You will be performing
three sets of three reps for the squat and deadlift and five sets of four
reps for the bench press. The training weight is 60 percent of your projected
maximum and it and it will be con-stant for the next four weeks.

Maximum strength training. You will use 80-95
percent of your calculated maximum for one to two sets of one rep for each
exercise. Train maximum strength on only one exercise per day. I used to
max out as follows: deadlift on Monday (day 1), bench press on Wednesday
(day 2) and squat on Friday (day 3).

Summary: Phase II

Day lsquat: 3x3bench: 5x4deadlift: 1-2x1

Day 2squat: 3x3bench: 1-2x1deadlift: 3x3

Day 3squat: 1-2x1bench: 5x4deadlift: 3x3

While
the percentages for the technique training will be constant, the percentages
for the maximum strength training will be increased weekly by five percent.Next up: Part 2-The squat: High volume and competition
phase. Until then: Good lifting! If you have further questions, feel free
to call or write me. Also available for seminars.